Decating machine



G. HAEBERLIN DECATING MACHINE Jan. 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1946 Jan. 17, 1950 G. HAEBERLIN 2,494,307

DECATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR K BY QM M15 MD A FORM Jan. 17, 1950 G. HAEBERLIN 2,494,807

DECATING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1946 Patented Jan. 11, 1950 George Haeberlin, Richmond, Va, assignor to Richmond Piece Dye Works, Inc., a corporation o! wit 7 Application January 15, 1946, Serial No. 641,392

This invention is a new and useful improvement in decating machines and will be fully understood from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the reverse side of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of part of the construc-' tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2. r

Fig. 4 is a section through the construction shown in Fig. 3 on the plane indicated by 3-4, and

Fig. 5 is a top view of one element of the construction shown in the preceding figures.

Decating machines are used in'the textile industry to improve the appearance and finish of textile fabrics. In operation, the piece or bolt of textile fabric to be treated together with a suitable blanket which is somewhat wider than the goods is wound snugly upon a hollow perforated cylinder. When this operation has been finished, steam is forced into the cylinder and out through the perforations until it has completely permeated the blanket and the textile fabric to be treated. After the steaming has been completed vacuum is applied to the interior of the cylinder which draws air in through the perforations and through '1 Claims. (of 68-5) with a multiplicity of perforations {which are shown diagramatically in Fig; 4. In practice, these perforations may, for example, be approximately 1; inch in diameter and spaced approximately one inch apart. These perforations communicate with the interior 4 of the cylinder which.

is hollow. The jacket 5 surrounds the perforated tubular portion of the cylinder and overlays the perforations. Jacket 5 may be composed of a closely woven or felted material. Its function is to cushion and uniformly support the textile fabric to be treated and, in addition, to establish uniformly permeable communication between the textile fabric and the perforations 3. Another function of the jacketfis to prevent the textile fabric from undergoing shrinkage in the width while being processed.

The end 5 of the cylinder shown in Fig. 1 is a closed flange which carries axially the shaft 1. Shaft l is in turn splined to driving means I. This driving means in the particular embodiment shown is a pulley adapted for V-belt drive although, of course, any alternative driving means such as a flat pulley or sprocket wheel may alter- 26 natively be employed. The shaft 1 is provided the blanket and textile fabric thereby stripping the steam out of the blanket and fabric. This is necessarily a batch operation- Time is required to fully permeate the blanket and fabric with steam and thereafter to completely strip the steam from the blanket and fabric. There may also be some difierence in the time and degree of treatment which the inner and outer layers of l the fabric have received. Decating machines have been proposed .in which the fabric moves continuously through the machine and the operation is therefore continuous. Such machines as heretofore proposed, however, are incapable of yielding a product comparable in appearance and finish with that heretofore obtained from the batch decating machines now in commercial use.v

now obtainable from the batch machines in commercial operation with the additional advantages of continuous operation and a greater uniformity of treatment.

The apparatus (Fig. 1) includes cylinder I, the internal construction of which-is shown in the sectional view appearing in Fig. 4. The tubular wall 2 of the cylinder is of metal and is provided with a journal or bearing surface 9 (Fig. 3) which is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing (not shown).

The opposite end ll of the cylinder (Fig. 2) carries axially the shaft or spindle 12 (Fig. 3). This shaft or spindle is provided with a journal or bearing surface 13 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing (not shown). The shaft or spindle I2 is hollow (Fig. 4) and therefore communicates freely with the interior I of cylinder l. The outer end of the shaft or spindle l2 passes through stuffing box I4 into the hollow fitting it which is in turn connected to pipe l6 (Fig. 3). Pipe I6 is in turn connected (Fig. 2) to the intake I! of a suitable suction pump l8 which in the specific embodiment shown is of the centrif- 3|, 35 and 36. Each of these rollersis provided with a shaft or axle mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) to permit the roller to rotate freely. The blanket 3| fits snugly against jacket 5 surrounding cylinder and is driven or carried by engagement with jacket or with the fabric to be treated when the machine is in operation and such fabric is resting on jacket 5 as will be hereinafter explained.

Suitable means is provided to insure uniform tension on the endless blanket 3|. In the embodiment shown the roller 34 is carried by axle 4|, one end of which is rotatably mounted (Fig. 2) in the bearing 42 formed in the lever 43. This lever is pivotally mounted on the shaft 44 carried by the block 45 while the other end 46 of the lever 43 is provided with adjustable weights 41. The other end (Fig. 1) of the axle 4| is rotatably mounted in bearing 48 formed in lever 49. Lever 49 is pivotally carried by shaft 5| supported by block 52. The other end 53 of the lever 49 is similarly provided with adjustable weights 54.

Immediately beneath the cylinder I provide the steam duct 55 extending longitudinally of cylinder The upper surface 56 of the duct 55 is of arcuate form concentric with cylinder thereby forming a face plate which conforms substantially to the tubular surface of the endless blanket 3| and is located close to the blanket but is preferably spaced a shortdistance from the blanket so that the blanket is not in rubbing contact with the same. A clearance of 5 inch has been found satisfactory. Means for discharging steam at high velocity is also provided within upper surface 53 and extending longitudinally thereof. It is preferably located substantially in the longitudinal center of the surface 56. This means may comprise a number of small holes oriented preferably along the longitudinal center of the surface 56 but is preferably in the form of a long narrow slot 51 (Figs. 4 and 5) similarly oriented. In actual practice, the slot 51 is preferably about inch in width and extends to within two inches of the outer edge of the endless blanket 3|. It is entirely surrounded by the surface 56 which, as shown in Fig. 5, extends longitudinally beyond the slot 51 to at least the outer edges of the endless blanket 3|. In any case, I provide some means within the duct 55 adapted to conduct steam to the said means for discharging." In the preferred construction where the means for discharging is a slot such as 51 this means consists of plates 58 and 59 (Fig. 4) preferably oriented in parallel planes and extending heat into the plates 58 and 59. As the steam moves from the interior of duct 55 through the space between these plates it undergoes some expansion with a consequent cooling effect which is to a large extent overcome by the temperature differential between the issuing steam andthe plates 58 and 59 so that the steam issues from the slot 51 at a relatively high temperature and with some superheat. I find it preferable to maintain a steam pressure within the duct 65 of between two and ten pounds gauge. Any condensate separating in the duct 55 is withdrawn through the bleeder 64 (Fig. 3) controlled by valve 65.

In operation, the cylinder is rotated by motor 21 and reduction gear 26. In actual practice with a cylinder 22 inches in diameter 1 have found that speeds of from 10 to 20 R. P. M. will give entirely satisfactorily results but I do not wish to be understood as restricting the successful operation of the device to these speeds.

The suction R p l8 driven by motor 24 is then started. In actual operation, I have found that a pump capacity necessary to create a vacuum of two inches in the interior of cylinder I will give entirely satisfactory results but I do not wish to be understood as limiting the successful operation of the device to this Particular range of vacuum.

The valve 6| is then opened to admit steam to the duct 55 with the result that a steam pressure of from two to ten pounds is developed in the duct 55 and steam is discharged at high velocity from the slot 51. This steam spreads out over the face of face plate 56 and over this general area is forced upwardly through the endless blanket 3| at a high velocity and at an elevated temperature. Over the entire remainder of the surface of cylinder air is simultaneously drawn in through perforations 3 to comingle with the steam in the interior of cylinder I from which the mixture of air and steam is discharged through the outlet I9.

When operating conditions have been established the band of textile material 66 is fed into the machine. This band 66 of textile material is engaged in the bite Ill between the jacket I and the endless blanket 3| and is carried thereby on from the slot downwardly into the duct to form a passageway which conducts steam telescopically from the interior of duct 55 to the discharge slot 51. In operation, steam must of course be car'- ried into the duct 55 and for this purpose I provide (Fig. 3) the steam' inlet pipe 60 controlled by valve 6|. This pipe may simply communicate with the interior of the duct 55 but in practice I find it preferable to extend it longitudinally within the duct 55 for substantially the entire length of the duct closin the end of the pipe 60 which is adjacent the end 62 of the duct 55. The pipe 60 is then provided with a multiplicity of perforations 63 (Fig. 4) by which steam may be uniformly discharged along the interior length of the duct 55. I find it of advantage, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to form these perforations 63 so that they are directed diagonally upward and away from the space between the plates 58 and 59. By this arrangement any entrained drops of water are projected forcibly against the interior surface of the duct 55 ,and thereby eliminated from the steam which issues from slot 51. This arrangement moreover facilitates the transfer of cylinder between the jacket and the blanket in the direction indicated by arrow I l Any suitable tensioning device may be used to insure that the band of textile material as it enters the machine is fully expanded and extended and is free from pleats and wrinkles. The band 69 of textile material emerges from the machine at the point 12 and may then be folded or may alternatively if desired be carried forward continuously to any succeeding stage of the process.

The brief interval in which the textile fabric 69 is passing over the face plate 56 and during which steam is being forced through the material is suflicient to impart to the fabric the desired improvement in handle and appearance. During the remainder of its travel over the cylinder between jacket 5 and blanket 3| the air which is drawn through the fabric removes the steam and sets or'flxes desired.

The foregoing description is byway of illustration and not of limitation and I am not to be limited to any details but only by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means in the fabric the qualities for rotating said cylinder and means for applyin suction t the interior of said cylinder and a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; means for discharging steam adjacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder including nozzle orifice means extending longitudinally of said cylinder adjacent the exterior of said blanket and an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder surrounding said orifice means.

2. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means for rotating said cylinder and means for applying suction to the interior of said cylinder and a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; means for discharging steam adjacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder including a duct extending longitudinally of said cylinder, an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder carried by said duct and a nozzle orifice in said face plate extending longitudinally of said cylinder adjacent the exterior of said blanket.

3. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means for rotating said cylinder and means for applying suction to the interior of said cylinder and a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; .means for discharging steam adjacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder, including a duct extending longitudinally of said cylinder, an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder carried by said duct, an orifice in said face plate communicating with said duct and means within said duct connected to said orifice adapted to conduct steam to said orifice.

4. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means for rotating said cylinder and means for applying suction to the interior of said cylinder and a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; means for discharging steam arijacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder, including a duct extending longitudinally of said cylinder, an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder carried by said duct, orifice means in the form of a slot in said face plate extending longitudinally of said cylinder adjacent the exterior of said blanket and a plate adjacent either side of said slot form orifice means extending therefrom into said duct adapted to conduct steam to said orifice.

5. In a decating machine according to claim 4 in which the said plates are in parallel planes and positioned and shaped to conduct a substantially non-turbulent flow of steam to said orifice.

6. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means for rotating said cylinder and means for applying suction to the interior of said cylinder and a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; means for discharging steam adjacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder, including a duct extending longitudinally of said cylinder, an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder carried by said duct, orifice means in said face plate extending longitudinally of said cylinder adjacent the exterior of said blanket,

means in said duct adapted to conduct steam to i said orifice means, a perforate pipe extending longitudinally within said duct adapted to carry steam into said duct and steam jets in said pipe directed diagonally upward and away from said means for conducting steam to said orifice means.

7. In a decating machine which includes an externally perforate hollow cylinder and means for rotating said cylinder and means for applying suction to the interior of said cylinder and :a blanket running against a part of the periphery of said cylinder adapted to hold a band of textile material in engagement with the periphery of said cylinder; means for discharging steam adjacent a part of the periphery of said cylinder, including a duct extending longitudinally of said cylinder, an arcuate face plate concentric with said cylinder carried by said duct, an orifice in the form of a slot in said face plate extending longitudinally of said cylinder adjacent the exterior of said blanket, plates within said duct one adjacent each side of said orifice adapted to conduct steam to said orifice, a perforated pipe extending longitudinally within said duct and steam jets in said pipe directed diagonally upward and away from said plates.

GEORGE HAEBERLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Mar. 11, 1935 

